Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in rheumatoid arthritis patients who are receiving therapy with low-dose chlorambucil.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
A Ramos
Publications and source records attributed to A Ramos.
A procedure for human pregnancy zone protein (and human alpha 2-macroglobulin) purification using hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-sepharose CL-4B column.
In the present work we describe a procedure for the purification of human pregnancy zone protein (PZP) from pooled late pregnancy plasma by using hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) on a phenyl-Sepharose column. The HIC step allowed the complete isolation of haptoglobins and the partial separation of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) from a protein fraction containing PZP previously obtained by a DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Pure and native PZP, with a recovery of nearly 25% and biological activity of protease-binding, was obtained by two definitive final steps consisting of zinc-chelate and size-filtration chromatographies. Moreover, we further present an alternative procedure for the purification of alpha 2-M from the same pregnancy plasma, based on the differential elution of PZP and alpha 2-M from the HIC. This purification step gave rise to a highly purified product with a recovery of 10%. This differential elution could be explained by differences in surface hydrophobicity observed between both proteins. In addition, considering the different hydrophobic properties exhibited by native PZP and PZP-protease complexes, HIC on phenyl-Sepharose column could also be used for separating both conformational states of PZP.
Chelating Agents↗
Giant intrasacral schwannomas: report of six cases.
Only 4 of the 30 previously reported cases of giant sacral schwannomas have been studied with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We are reporting 6 more cases, 5 of which had MRI studies. There were 5 women and 1 man (average age 45 years) with long lasting symptoms consisting of lumbosacral and radicular pain accompanied by urinary disturbances and dysaesthetic sensations in the lower limbs. CT clearly defined sacral bone involvement but poorly demonstrated intraspinal tumour extension which was more evident in MRI studies. MRI also clearly showed the intrapelvic extension of the tumour, its relationship with the neighbouring structures and the dumbbell growth pattern due to tumour extension through sacral foramina which are important data for making a pro-operative diagnosis and surgical planning. Surgical treatment consisted of piecemeal tumour resection through a posterior approach in four cases. Two patients underwent operation through an abdominal transperitoneal approach followed by a sacral laminectomy. Total intracapsular resection was apparently achieved in 5 cases. Through an average follow-up period of 9.2 years and despite a rather conservative approach, the recurrence rate has been very low in our series and only one patient had to be re-operated on for tumour recurrence.
Adolescent↗
Inhibitory effects of human alpha 2-macroglobulin on Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote proteinases.
The inactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi proteinases by human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M), a major plasma proteinase inhibitor was studied. Evidences regarding the interaction between alpha 2-M and proteolytic enzymes contained in crude cell-free extracts of T. cruzi were derived from electrophoretic and enzymatic assays. The former showed conformational and structural changes occurring in alpha 2-M, as judged by the appearance of transformed 'fast' form on native PAGE; generation of bands of approximately 90 kDa on reduced SDS-PAGE and formation of covalent complexes enzyme-inhibitor on SDS-PAGE. On the other hand, the total proteolytic activity on azocasein dropped significantly in the presence of alpha 2-M, although partial activity was still maintained. The proteinases detected as a double band of 44 and 53 kDa on gelatin SDS-PAGE were also inhibited by alpha 2-M. Results suggest that the study of specific interactions between alpha 2-M and T. cruzi-proteinases, probably with cruzipain, could be biologically important in the fate of T. cruzi-infection and Chagas' disease.
Animals↗
A multiple-test study of anxiety-related behaviours in six inbred rat strains.
Recent studies have underlined the impact of genetic factors in anxiety profiles. In this context, we have initiated a series of experiments aiming to select, among six inbred strains of rats, a pair of strains that contrasts the most in fear-related behaviours measured in the open field, the elevated plus-maze, the black and white box and the social interaction test. Significant interstrain differences were found for all behavioural measures. A factor analysis of all variables produced three independent factors explaining 85.1% of the total variance. Factor 1 had high loadings from variables related to the approach/avoidance towards aversive stimuli (e.g., center of the open field, open arms of the plus-maze and white compartment of the black/white box). Variables related to general activity in novel environments (e.g., total locomotion in the open field and closed-arm entries in the plus-maze) loaded highly on Factor 2. Defecation and time of social interaction loaded positively on Factor 3. To verify whether elevated plus-maze variables loading on Factor 1 were associated to anxiety, the effects of single doses of diazepam and pentylenetetrazole were examined in Lewis and SHR rats, i.e., the most contrasting strains regarding Factor 1. Variables with high loadings on this factor changed in opposite ways in response to diazepam and pentylenetetrazole treatments. This study suggests, thus, that Lewis and SHR strains may constitute a useful model for studying the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the interindividual differences in baseline levels of anxiety.
Animals↗
[Evolution of pulmonary scintigraphy in the follow-up of pulmonary embolism. Effect of anticoagulant treatment and other associated factors].
We performed a prospective study to determine the evolution of perfusion defects 6 months after pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), to identify associated factors and to evaluate the incidence of subclinical recurrence. Seventy patients diagnosed of PTE were enrolled. Perfusion pulmonary scintiscans were performed 6 months after the acute PTE episode and the results were compared with initial defects. We looked for significant relations between several course profiles and factors such as age, sex, anticoagulation therapy and patient history. Defects revealed by the initial scintiscan remained the same 6 months later in 15 (21%), decreased in 35 (53%) and disappeared in 16 (23%) of the 70 patients. New defects were identified in 2 patients. A significant relation was found between a favorable outcome as shown by follow-up scintiscans and compliance with anticoagulation therapy (p = 0.0024). Other statistically significant relations were observed between favorable outcome and a history of surgical intervention during the acute episode (p = 0.004) and between unfavorable outcome and a history of venous thromboembolic disease (p = 0.004).
Adult↗
Recent solution structures of RNA and its complexes with drugs, peptides and proteins.
The past two years have seen remarkable progress in the study of RNA structure: the predicted era of RNA structural biology has arrived. Crystallographic structures of the hammerhead ribozyme and of a large subunit of a group I self-splicing intron have begun to reveal the structural basis of RNA enzymatic activity. A remarkable number of structures of small RNAs and of complexes with drugs, peptides and one protein domain have been determined by NMR.
Forecasting↗
Behavioral reactivity to social and nonsocial stimulations: a multivariate analysis of six inbred rat strains.
Male rats from six inbred rat strains (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat, Wistar Kyoto, Brown Norway, Wistar Furth, Fischer 344, and Lewis) have been compared for their behavioral reactivity when placed in several nonsocial (elevated plus-maze, open field) and social (social interaction in aversive and neutral environment, resident-intruder test, chronic social stress) settings. In addition, a factorial analysis was performed to assess how the variables measured in these different tests related to each other. Besides significant strain-related differences in all tests, the factorial analysis showed that, in nonsocial environments, the strains contrasted essentially along two independent behavioral traits, the propensity to approach or avoid an aversive stimulus and general motor activity in novel environments (two indices of emotionality). In the social settings, marked interstrain differences were observed regarding the expression of aggressive behaviors but these differences were not related to the respective levels on the two nonsocial components of reactivity. Furthermore, large genetic differences were observed in variations of body weight induced by a chronic social stressor paradigm. The factorial analysis suggested a lack of relationship between the effect of social stressors on body weight and the measures of emotionality and general activity obtained in the nonsocial tests. Conversely, these variations were influenced by the levels of aggressiveness and sociability. Taken together, these results show (i) that the behavioral variability observed in rats in social and nonsocial environments, is influenced by genetic factors and (ii) that the behavioral reactivity to social stimulations is a specific feature, dissociable from the levels of the different components of emotionality (approach/avoidance and general activity) as evaluated by the behavioral responses to nonsocial settings.
Aggression↗
Stabilization of Enzymes against Thermal Stress and Freeze-Drying by Mannosylglycerate.
2-O-(beta)-Mannosylglycerate, a solute that accumulates in some (hyper)thermophilic organisms, was purified from Pyrococcus furiosus cells, and its effect on enzyme stabilization in vitro was assessed. Enzymes from hyperthermophilic, thermophilic, and mesophilic sources were examined. The thermostabilities of alcohol dehydrogenases from P. furiosus and Bacillus stearothermophilus and of glutamate dehydrogenases from Thermotoga maritima and Clostridium difficile were improved to a significant extent when enzyme solutions were incubated at supraoptimal temperatures in the presence of 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate, but no effect on the thermostability of glutamate dehydrogenase from P. furiosus was detected. On the other hand, there was a remarkable effect on the thermal stabilities of rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase, baker's yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, and bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase, which were used as model systems to evaluate stabilization of enzymes of mesophilic origin. For all of the enzymes examined and at the highest temperatures tested, 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate was a better thermoprotectant than trehalose. The stabilizing effect exerted by 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate on enzymes suggests a role for this compound as a protein thermostabilizer under physiological conditions. 2-O-(beta)-Mannosylglycerate was also effective in the protection of enzymes against stress imposed by freeze-drying, with its protecting effect being similar to or better than that exerted by trehalose. The data show 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate to be a potential enzyme stabilizer in biotechnological applications.
Journal Article↗
Biochemical basis for glucose-induced inhibition of malolactic fermentation in Leuconostoc oenos.
The sugar-induced inhibition of malolactic fermentation in cell suspensions of Leuconostoc oenos, recently reclassified as Oenococcus oeni (L. M. T. Dicks, F. Dellaglio, and M. D. Collins, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 45:395-397, 1995) was investigated by in vivo and in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and manometric techniques. At 2 mM, glucose inhibited malolactic fermentation by 50%, and at 5 mM or higher it caused a maximum inhibitory effect of ca. 70%. Galactose, trehalose, maltose, and mannose caused inhibitory effects similar to that observed with glucose, but ribose and 2-deoxyglucose did not affect the rate of malolactic activity. The addition of fructose or citrate completely relieved the glucose-induced inhibition. Glucose was not catabolized by permeabilized cells, and inhibition of malolactic fermentation was not observed under these conditions. 31P NMR analysis of perchloric acid extracts of cells obtained during glucose-malate cometabolism showed high intracellular concentrations of glucose-6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate, and glycerol-3-phosphate. Glucose-6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate, and NAD(P)H inhibited the malolactic activity in permeabilized cells or cell extracts, whereas NADP+ had no inhibitory effect. The purified malolactic enzyme was strongly inhibited by NADH, whereas all the other above-mentioned metabolites exerted no inhibitory effect, showing that NADH was responsible for the inhibition of malolactic activity in vivo. The concentration of NADH required to inhibit the activity of the malolactic enzyme by 50% was ca. 25 microM. The data provide a coherent biochemical basis to understand the glucose-induced inhibition of malolactic fermentation in L. oenos.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Smoking cessation with a 16 h nicotine patch: results in a group of hospital workers.
As part of a programme for the implementation of a Smoking Control Policy in our hospital, an open study, without randomization, of 65 hospital workers, who wanted to give up smoking, was carried out. The characteristics of smoking in each subject were recorded. The Fagerstrom Questionnaire was used to measure the degree of dependence on nicotine. The treatment consisted of the daily use of 16 h nicotine patches for 12 weeks. During the first 4 weeks, the patches contained 15 mg of nicotine, for the second 4 weeks, 10 mg, and for the last 4 weeks 5 mg (per patch and day). Five visits were scheduled during the 26 week study period: at the start of the study and after 4, 8, 12 and 26 weeks. The abstinence was checked by measuring carbon monoxide in end-expiratory air. The success rate was 31% after 12 weeks, and decreased to 29% after 26 weeks. In conclusion, the nicotine patches appeared safe and effective in this study.
Administration, Cutaneous↗
[Subcapsular splenic hematoma associated with cytomegalovirus in an immunocompetent patient].
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Adult↗
[Spinal epidural hematoma in anticoagulated patient. Letter].
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Acenocoumarol↗
Central serotonergic systems in the spontaneously hypertensive and Lewis rat strains that differ in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety.
The spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Lewis (LEW) strains differ in numerous behavioral tests, including the elevated plus-maze. In keeping with the crucial role of central serotonin (5-HT) in anxiety, we checked for strain differences regarding several determinants of 5-HT activity. In addition to confirming that LEW rats displayed anxious behaviors in the plus-maze compared with SHR, we found that in vitro, central tryptophan hydroxylase activity was higher in LEW rats than in SHR. However, ex vivo studies in midbrains and hippocampi revealed that neither 5-HT synthesis nor 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels differed between strains. [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-pro-pylamino)tetralin binding at midbrain 5-HT1A autoreceptors and hippocampal 5-HT1A postsynaptic receptors, [3H]ketanserin binding at cortical and striatal 5-HT2A receptors and [3H]citalopram binding at midbrain and hippocampal 5-HT transporters did not vary between strains. The inhibition of 5-HT synthesis by 5-HT1A autoreceptor stimulation was similar in both strains. Forepaw treading and flat body posture after 5-HT1A postsynaptic receptor stimulation were higher and lower, respectively, in SHR than in LEW rats. Last, 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-aminopropane- and quipazine-elicited head shakes, a 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response, were increased in the SHR strain compared with the LEW strain; on the other hand, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine triggered similar 5-HT2B/2C receptor-mediated decreases in motor activity in the two strains. This study shows that although the low-anxiety (SHR) and high-anxiety (LEW) strains vary in some aspects of 5-HT function, key components such as the 5-HT1A autoreceptors are not different.
8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
[HTLV-I myelopathy: presentation of a new case].
INTRODUCTION: HTLV-I is a human retrovirus which has been implicated in the genesis of tropical spastic paraparesis (HTLV-I-associated myelopathy). So far five cases of this illness have been detected in Spain, five of them in immigrants. We present a new case in Spain, with a characteristic chronic clinical picture. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old black woman native of Ecuatorial Guinea, developed along 10 years a progressive paraparesis of asymmetric onset with important back pain, that arrives to paraplegic spastic phase at the present time. She presents distal amyotrophies, ulcers of decubitus and loss of control of sphincters, with normal mental status. Laboratory tests: blood, biochemistry and microbiologic studies: normal, or negative. She presented positive Western Blot serology for HTLV-I, confirmed by means of PCR technique. Cranial MRI: small and hyperintense subcortical lesions on T2 weighted images; spinal MRI: local atrophy at high thoracic level. A lumbar puncture was performed, with no cells, and with presence of oligoclonal bands, and a high IgG index. Urodynamic study: neurogenic spastic bladder. EMG: mild axonal polyneuropathy with prevalence in legs. CONCLUSIONS: In the differential diagnosis of progressive paraperesis, and mainly with epidemic antecedents, it is necessary to include a determination of HTLV-I between the diagnostic tests.
Adult↗
Video laparoscopy for the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices.
Bleeding from esophageal varices is the major cause of death in patients with portal hypertension. The ideal surgical procedure should effectively control bleeding, with as little impairment of liver function as possible and with low rates of encephalopathy. Based on this objective, we propose the azygoportal disconnection (APD) with splenic artery ligation, and suturing of the gastric and esophageal varies without opening the esophagus, by video laparoscopy. With the patient placed in a semigynecologic position, we use five trocars, and the intervention begins by dissection of the diaphragmatic hiatus and isolation of the esophagus. Then devascularization of the gastric fundus is accomplished. After that, dissection and ligature between clips of the splenic artery are performed. The surgery proceeds with dissection and ligation of the vessels of the lesser curvature. After orally introducing a 12-mm Fouchet probe, we suture the varices of the distal esophagus transmurally, with interrupted sutures. The procedure is accomplished with a floppy Nissen valve. Between March 1994 and May 1995, four patients were treated with this method, two men and two women with a mean age of 54 years. All of them had hepatic cirrhosis. Three patients were classified Child B and the other Child C. Surgical indication in all subjects was persistent bleeding of the esophageal varices, after failure of such clinical attempts as endoscopic sclerosis and tamponade with the Sangstaken-Blakemore balloon. The operation mean time was 177 min. Neither bleeding nor hemodynamic changes occurred during the surgery. The patients were sent to the intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively for a mean time of 3 days, and they were discharged from the hospital between days 8 and 10. The evolution demonstrated stabilization of the hepatic function and regression of the varices from grades III and IV to grade I. No bleeding recurred. Although this study had a small number of patients, we believe that this operation made by mini-invasive technique permits a quick recovery, reducing the global morbidity of this procedure.
Adult↗
[Adequacy of the pharmacologic treatment to the recommendations of a performance protocol in hypercholesterolemia in primary care].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hypolipaemiant treatment in patients with hypercholesterolaemia (HC) corresponds to the recommendations in a primary care diagnosis and treatment protocol. DESIGN: Descriptive observational study. SETTING: Primary care centre. PATIENTS: 304 patients whose long-term prescription records recorded hypolipaemiant drugs. RESULTS: Average age was 62.7 and 198 were women. 176 presented simple HC and 125 mixed dyslipaemia. 46 had a history of ischaemic cardiopathy. Pre-treatment LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) was recorded for 224; 168 of them had 2 or more cardiovascular risk factors. Of the 202 who had a record of post-treatment LDL-c, 163 were at level III of risk, which went down to 47 at 6 months. The values before and after medication were as follows: total cholesterol (TC) 290.3 mg/dl and 246.2 mg/dl; LDL-c 207.8 mg/dl and 166.0 mg/dl; HDL-cholesterol 50.5 mg/dl and 53.1 mg/dl; and triglycerides (TG) 156.1 mg/dl and 133.6 mg/dl. Mean reduction of TC and LDL-c was greater in the patients treated with statins that in those treated with fibrates. Decrease in TG was greater with fibrates. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment was initiated when LDL-c figures were over the limit specified in the protocol. In most cases this was because of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors.
Adult↗
Spontaneous micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes from 35 mammalian species.
In this paper we report the results of a study to determine the frequencies of spontaneous micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) in peripheral blood of 35 mammalian species. The main goal was to find mammals with a high spontaneous frequency of MNE that could, therefore, be good candidates for biomonitoring genotoxic agents in their natural habitat. We obtained 187 peripheral blood samples, but in 13 of the species we could only sample one individual. A wide range in the number of MNE (1/434 to 0/40,000 erythrocytes) was observed. Since the number of individuals per species is not high enough, this results should be cautiously considered. The cat, mouse, giraffe, pig, opossum and capuchin monkey seem to be suitable species for biomonitoring for genotoxic events.
Animals↗